My niece Julie was married to Chris Phillips on May 16, 2009. It was a beautiful event and they seem very happy and well matched.
I started thinking about Julie or "Baby Julie" as we always called her (Dave called her this til she was like 15). I feel so privileged to have been a close aunt to her. I remember many things about Julie's childhood but on the day, her wedding day, a particular memory came to mind. When Julie was about 6 year s old, she competed in the "Little Miss Santa Clara" pageant. Julie was a good little dancer and lit up on stage. Julie's dance teacher encouraged my sister, Shelly, to put Julie in the competition.
On the day of the competition, Shelly was fixing Julie's hair and talking to her about her upcoming performance. Shelly, wanted to "soften the blow" so to speak, by telling Julie not to be upset if she didn't win because there were lots of girls in the pageant that had been competing for years. Julie took it all in, then she said, "I've just gotta get that crown!"
I did not realize then what a great life lesson Julie was teaching us. As I attended the sealing of Julie and Chris, in the Fresno temple, this scene came to my mind. Julie was well on her way to "getting that crown." As she continues her life on the righteous path that she is now on, Julie can be a queen to her husband, her children and in the righteous home she builds here on earth. If she continues on this same righteous path, she will be crowned with glory in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father.
Life, unlike the pageant, is not a competition, every one of us is offered "the crown" if we will follow our Heavenly Father, live righteously and uphold the covenants we make in the temple. Everyone who does their absolute best will win the crown.
So, Baby Julie, as you begin your new life as a wife and someday as a mother to elect spirits of our Heavenly Father, I hope the wisdom of that five year old Julie comes to your mind and you will reclaim your childhood goal. As you profoundly said many years ago, "I've just gotta get that crown." This is the greatest goal of all.
